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16 June 2016

Eurosatory 2016: Seen & Heard

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded Chemring Military Products (CMP), part of the Chemring Group, a second delivery order under its 5-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Non-Standard Ammunition (NSA), valued at over U$29 million. This significant award strengthens CMP’s position as an industry leader in NSA brokering. CMP was awarded a five-year IDIQ for NSA in March 2016 with an initial delivery order in excess of $18 million. The award of this second competitive delivery order brings Chemring’s current contract value to over $47 million. Non-Standard Ammunition is defined as any ammunition or weapon system that DoD has not type-classified. DoD relies on companies, such as CMP, to broker NSA because it supports the needs of the United States and its Allies.

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CMI Defence and Mecar, the latter a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexter, signed and implemented a Framework Agreement, whereby CMI Defence will assume responsibility for marketing and sales of Mecar’s suite of direct fire medium and large calibre ammunition in defined territories. Under the terms of this agreement, CMI Defence will directly supply its key customers with high quality direct fire ammunition specifically with regards to 30mm, 90mm and 105mm calibres developed and manufactured by Mecar. With its world renowned expertise in direct fire medium and large calibre weapons’ systems, CMI Defence is now in a position to offer its customers a full system comprising both weapons’ platforms and related ammunition.

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Safran Electronics & Defense and Safran Vectronix combined their knowledge to create a multifunctional laser range finding device. Developed and made in Switzerland, the revolutionary Clip On Laser Range Finding Device Illumination Pointing Communication (COLD IPC) enables one operator to handle more tasks and manage even more complex situations while keeping the target constantly in sight. Features include a high performance range finder, visible and invisible pointers, an invisible illuminator, an inclination sensor and a Bluetooth module, enabling rapid transfer of data through standard communication interfaces. In addition to providing the user constant control of the situation, the COLD IPC is both compact and versatile. At only 120mm long, 84mm wide and 42mm high, the total weight is 340g, allowing maximum functionality with minimum weight. With its high precision and accuracy, Mil-Spec robustness and versatility, the device ensures outstanding usability and ease of use in multiple situations. Other features include a high quality bespoke display, remote control and built-in rail adaptor.

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The Javelin Joint Venture team, a partnership of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, successfully demonstrated JAVELIN’s ability to engage targets beyond its current 2.5km range requirement during a series of ground vehicle launch tests. The five tests were conducted for the UK Army at the Salisbury Plain Training Area in Wiltshire, England. During the UK Army-sponsored tests, the JAVELIN missiles were mounted on a SPARTAN armoured fighting vehicle and fired via the Kongsberg M151 Remote Weapon Station. Each missile flew between 1.2 and 4.3km, hitting the stationary ground target in each test.

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Safran Electronics & Defense has signed a contract in the Middle East to provide its Uliss 30XP topographic positioning systems for an artillery brigade. The contract includes training services for the brigade’s personnel.The Uliss 30XP is a Positioning and Azimuth Determination System (PADS), based on a high-performance version of Safran Electronics & Defense’s SIGMA 30XP inertial navigation system, already chosen by the French army to modernize the topographic armored vehicles deployed by the 28th Geographic Group in the Intelligence Brigade.Equipped with a theodolite and a processing unit, the Uliss 30XP is a compact, modular and autonomous system, easily integrated in all armoured vehicles.In the field, the Uliss 30XP precisely identifies the geographic coordinate references needed to operate and point artillery batteries – even without a GPS signal. Easy to use and highly cost-effective, the Uliss 30XP is designed for easy deployment near artillery pieces without their own navigation and pointing systems, to enable highly accurate firing.
In addition, the data gathered during topography missions can be processed to produce high-definition detailed military maps. This latest selection confirms the key contribution of SIGMA 30 pointing systems to artillery effectiveness. Systems in the Sigma 30 family are already used on Caesar, Archer and PzH 2000 artillery systems, the Mars single-rocket launcher, the 2R2M mortar and mobile air defence radars. It is combat-proven in some of today’s most demanding theaters of operation.

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Supacat is in exclusive discussions with TINEX with a view to appointing TINEX as Preferred Partner to provide primary support for Supacat’s industrial supplier co-operation requirements in Norway. Last year, Supacat signed a £23 million contract with The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) for a new fleet of Supacat HMT Extenda vehicles. The agreed intention is that TINEX, an Oslo–based full-service engineering company, which specialises in representing international companies in Defence and Security, would be the single point of contact for Supacat in Norway in supporting the programme. TINEX would also be responsible for integrating a number of systems onto the rolling chassis, which will be built by Supacat at its Devon, UK, facility. The first production vehicle will be delivered in late 2016 followed by the full fleet delivery from 2017 to 2019.

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Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions introduces the newest member of the Rugged Video Gateway (RVG) family of video management solutions, for size, weight and power (SWaP)-constrained ground and airborne platforms. The 8-port, multi-format, RVG-SDI Crossbar Video Switch speeds and simplifies the routing of 3G, HD and SD-SDI video sources, such as distributing video camera data to multiple displays. The RVG-SDI functions as a non-blocking crossbar switch and features eight external miniBNC connectors, each of which can be configured as either a video input or output. The unit’s unique level of configuration flexibility enables any input to be routed to any or all of the 7 remaining I/O ports. Additionally, the RVG-SD1 can be configured on-the-fly via its external RS-422 and CAN control interfaces or statically to support a specific mission.

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Saab displays concepts of tomorrow’s camouflage solutions at Eurosatory 2016 in Paris. Intelligent camouflage is one area that will be the game changer for future armed forces. Barracuda, the signature management experts within Saab, is constantly working with research and development in order to introduce new products and solutions to secure that armed forces around the world stays undetected, no matter what happens. At Eurosatory 2016, Saab highlights new concepts within the field of intelligent camouflage to the attending audience in Hall 6, stand #J353.

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FN Herstal is showcasing its newly developed FN HUD (Head up Display) sighting system, at Eurosatory 2016. This system features the latest advances in digital electro-optics and is the fruition of FN Herstal’s continued investment in digital technology. The FN HUD is a state-of-the-art digital weapons suite that vastly improves the accuracy of pilots when firing axial mounted rockets and machine guns on rotary wing aircraft. The FN HUD also improves the capability of pilots with a lightweight optical projection head and an FN HUD computer for advanced ballistic calculations and digital control. Through this interface the FN HUD can also communicate with other avionic systems, such as the mission computer, the Armament Management System and the LRF for improved ballistic correction capability. Much more than a targeting system, the FN HUD features include compatibility with NVIS night vision goggles, integrated laser rangefinder, weapons inventory and status information, high reliability with no moving components and backwards mounting compatibility with legacy targeting systems. It is on display alongside FN Herstal’s other new innovations at FN Herstal booth – Belgian Pavilion, Hall 6, Booth #F 197.

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At RUAG Ammotec, precision and reliability are key aspects of every product, and are what make this constantly growing division the European market leader in small-calibre ammunition, pyrotechnic elements and components. At Eurosatory 2016, RUAG Ammotec presents among other things its Frangible ammunition. Law enforcement, military and security personnel must be able to train as close to reality as possible. But standard ammunition doesn’t allow dynamic shooting closer than 15 meters because of the high risk of ricochet or backsplash. Training with marking- or blank rounds is good for interactive scenarios, but it is often observed that is degenerates into “a game”. Because there is no direct risk of getting injured, shooters don’t pay enough attention to safety aspects like their own cover and get tempted to take too many risks. That’s where the RUAG Ammotec’s Frangible ammunition comes into play. These 9x19 and 5.56x45 bullets are specially produced to be used in tactical training situations for close quarters battle and military operations in urban terrain CQB/MOUT. The bullet fully disintegrates into small, uniform fragments upon impact. The fragments loose their energy very quickly and move only in an accurately defined danger zone. Because of the injection moulding, the copper-particles are bound in the polymer and therefore cannot become airborne. This is reducing the possibility of backsplashes or ricochets and the damage inflicted on steel targets. Furthermore there are no respiratory and filtration problems. But make no mistake: Frangible ammunition is still lethal ammunition. That means that the stress factor at training remains high and users pay attention to the safety protocols. All calibres are tested according to NATO Standards. The bullets are made from copper and polymer by injection moulding, lead-free and fully recyclable.

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For more information please see MILITARY TECHNOLOGY #06/2016, available at the show in hall 6, stand #B197; and frequently check back for more NEWS FROM THE FLOOR.